Slated for release later this spring, the Dell Precision M2800, says the company, helps to bridge the gap between business-class laptops and mobile workstations by offering an affordable independent software vendor (ISV) certified system with professional graphics and processors.

The Dell Precision M2800 mobile workstation. Image courtesy of Dell.

“Many designers and engineers are not realizing the full potential of their professional software because they are using a business or consumer-class PC instead of a workstation,” said Andy Rhodes, executive director of Dell Precision workstations, in the M2800 announcement. “We are filling that gap by introducing a new mobile workstation at a price that lets more professionals and students maximize their software while on the go. This is the right tool to help more people design and deliver innovations faster, no matter where they are.”

The Dell Precision M2800 mobile workstation. Image courtesy of Dell.

The M2800 can be configured with fourth-generation dual-core Intel Core i5 or quad-core Intel Core i7 processors. It uses AMD FirePro W4170M graphics with 2GB of dedicated GDDR5 video memory, and supports up to 16GB of system memory and 1TB of storage to run graphics- and data-intensive workloads, the company says. It comes with a 15.6-in. Dell UltraSharp display with HD or Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolutions, external multi-monitor support and docking compatibility.

The Dell Precision M2800’s starting weight before options is 5.6 lbs. (2.56kg). Pricing will begin at $1,199, according to Dell.

To maximize performance of CAD solutions, the M2800 will be ISV-certified for such applications as Autodesk AutoCAD, Inventor and Revit, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks and PTC Creo. It will also be certified for a number of digital content creation and editing applications. In addition, the M2800 comes with Dell Precision Performance Optimizer (DPPO) technology, which automatically adjusts system settings for optimizing specific applications.

The Dell Precision M2800 mobile workstation. Image courtesy of Dell.

“Prior to the Dell Precision M2800 many AutoCAD users were running their software on a non-professional workstation due to budgetary constraints,” said Amy Bunszel, vice president of AutoCAD products, Autodesk, in a statement provided with the press announcement. “Now our customers will be able to upgrade to a workstation-class system that has been tested, optimized and certified for AutoCAD, increasing performance for minimal cost.”

Dell says that its new Dell Precision M2800 mobile workstation will be available worldwide this spring. For more information, visit Dell.